DES MOINES, Iowa — The Bulldogs officially added standout recruit Sam Melaga from Slovakia to their roster for the upcoming spring season.

"Sam is someone that really stood out during the recruiting process for having a good balance athletically and academically," Head Coach Justin Stuckey said. "Sam will really add to our competitiveness in singles and in doubles. We are excited he is a Bulldog and can't wait for him to arrive in the spring."

Melaga has been consistently above a UTR of 11.50 throughout his junior career, reaching as high as 11.86 in singles this year. A dominant force in Slovak tennis, he is a two-time national champion in both singles and doubles, a J30 doubles champion in Trnava, and a finalist in both singles and doubles at multiple J30 tournaments. He has also represented the Slovak national team several times and held the title of Slovak No. 1 for four straight years.

His parents are Vladimir Melaga and Katarina Melagova.

"I chose Drake because it is a great university that will allow me to find balance between studying and playing tennis," Melaga said. "It will also help me develop not only as a tennis player but also as a person."